The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 88

Princess Isabel was a little happy.
After class, a group of people walked on the road.
They were all classmates who had been close to Eivass in recent days, and they were eager to attend the awarding ceremony. They hoped Eivass would take them to see the excitement and broaden their horizons.
Eivass generously agreed.
“Honestly, Eivass, I’m a bit suspicious…”
Aden, walking ahead, turned his head back to complain, “Did the Inspection Bureau seal off the White Dance Shoe Club because they want to requisition it for free as a venue for the commendation ceremony?”
“It’s quite possible,”
Angela, beside him, said smilingly, “After all, it’s the end of the year, and the Inspection Bureau’s budget is quite tight recently.
‘My mother told me that the Inspection Bureau must use up the funds allocated to them each year, but they cannot overspend too much. So at the end of every year, they are either trying hard to spend money or trying hard to save money… In any case, last year’s budget is definitely not accurate.'”
What she said carried a lot of weight.
This was because the girl, with her dark blue long hair and a perpetual smile, had a mother who worked in the Second Inspection Bureau of the Metropolitan Area.
The Metropolitan Area was to the northwest of the Red Queen District, directly mirroring the Lloyd District to the southeast of White Queen District. Compared to the Lloyd District, which was adjacent to the sea port, it was more inland. Continuing northwest from the Metropolitan Area would lead out of Glass Island and to Garden City.
It was the largest district on Glass Island by area and also the most populous and lively. It even required three Inspection Bureaus to ensure basic coverage. Contrary to the Lloyd District, where public safety was quite poor, the Metropolitan Area had excellent public safety, abundant resources, stable prices, and complete and well-developed public facilities. Moreover, because it was adjacent to Garden City, the environment there was also quite good.
In a sense, this was the main area for ordinary citizens living in Avalon, the capital city, for production and daily life—not chaotic and busy like the port area, nor as silent and solemn as the White and Red Queen District near the island within the island.
Public carriages had recently been introduced there, carrying nearly thirty people per vehicle. Travel had also become much more convenient.
Occasionally, students would go to the Metropolitan Area for fun—of course, it was not as stimulating as going to the Lloyd District, and prices were significantly higher. Suspicious goods were also much less common. However, some students who were more timid feared the Strangler Gang in the Lloyd District.
“Most of this year’s Inspection Bureau funds have been transferred to the Lloyd District. Inspectors willing to transfer to the Lloyd District will have their salaries increased by 80% of their original income, with a guaranteed additional 30% increase within one year.”
Angela sighed, “Although the Lloyd District is quite dangerous, they are paying too much.”
“It’s mainly because the Strangler Gang in the Lloyd District has become more and more rampant recently,”
Another male student from the Seminary sighed, “I heard that they have even started attacking inspectors. I don’t know if it’s true.”
“Most likely true,”
Angela shook her head, “To be precise, they discovered the corpses of inspectors who had been ‘strangled.’ Their clothes were completely stripped, and all their possessions were stolen. Even their eyes and tongues were taken.”
As she spoke, the blue-haired girl’s cheeks flushed slightly, “And the corpse discovered this time was quite significant… the lower part of his body was also cruelly severed while he was still alive.”
She turned to look at Eivass behind her, “What do you think, Teacher Eivass?”
“This indicates that the Pelican Bar is not the only place to sell ritual materials,”
Eivass’s gentle voice came from not far behind them, explaining in the most elegant way possible, “This is a higher-level substitute for ritual materials. Normally, materials from a male goat, especially a black male goat, should be used. Some Demon Scholars would dry them with sage, and then consume them to restore their life force and dark mana. Using extraordinary beings as materials can restore more mana…”
Although Eivass tried to be tactful, everyone present fell silent for a moment.
After a while, Aden let out a soft hiss, as if feeling a phantom pain.
“Where did you learn that, Eivass?”
Angela, with a slight blush on her small face, asked curiously, “Did you see it when you went to the library?”
“—This is knowledge from ‘Ordinary Ritual Studies,’ classmates,”
A familiar voice chimed in, causing them to instinctively shrink their necks and look in its direction.
The person who suddenly spoke from the front was Madam Maya, who had left the classroom immediately after class. Compared to her previous attire, she had only added a silver Episcopal Crown with three small candles inserted into it, and had put down her small shoulder bag containing lecture notes and textbooks.
After class, Eivass had not gone to the White Dance Shoe Club immediately. Instead, he first returned to his dormitory to retrieve the ‘Key Holy Sword’ that Bishop Mathers had lent him.
That assassin had not been killed. With her Path Adaptation life force, she should have recovered by today.
Eivass could not use the power of the Shadow Demon in a crowd. If she came for revenge, it would be troublesome.
So Eivass specifically took out this sword.
He could now afford to spend 33 points of fire mana to use the Holy Sword Technique, which was available once a month. At least his life should be safe—there would have to be some important figures attending the commendation ceremony, right?
This was the Sacred Sword Medal!
Among all the medals in Avalon, it ranked in the top three. It was even rarer in peacetime. Not to mention that Eivass’s surname was Moriarty… there should be some old knights from the Round Table Hall.
If that were the case, as long as Eivass could hold on, someone would come to his rescue.
It was precisely because Eivass took a small detour that Madam Maya, who had also gone back to get something, was able to get ahead of them.
“—Madam Maya.”
The students politely and respectfully greeted the kind and gentle lecturer.
Maya smiled amiably, reaching out her right hand and scratching the air. It was more like a cat’s paw swipe than a wave.
“If it’s an extraordinary being, and sufficiently long, it can be used without drying. The fresh version is quite good and can be used as a medium to summon demons. However, the required quantity would be larger—one or two are not enough, they need to be arranged in a circle, with space inside for placing sacrifices and writing incantations. Conservatively, the length would need to be close to one meter.”
Unlike the teenagers around eighteen or nineteen years old, Madam Maya, whose true age was unknown, clearly did not shy away from this topic, even showing a tendency to be a bit vulgar, “This is an elective course, and you can start choosing it as early as next semester. Not only you, but I think students who intend to become inspectors should also take this course, as it will help them identify Demon Scholars hidden among the crowd.
“By then, you will have to repeatedly touch and confirm all sorts of ritual materials. There are specific parts for males and females, as well as organs like the heart, brain, and liver. You’ll need to distinguish between specimens, mere organs, and ritual materials—and which are human and which are animal. All of these will be tested.
“Oh, don’t be shy… it’s like being a doctor. After touching them often, you’ll be able to tell what animal various materials come from just by reaching into a black box. A priest is a profession with broad knowledge and a wide range of fields. You’ll understand this principle sooner or later.”
“Did Madam Maya study this back then as well?” Aden asked curiously.
“Of course,” Madam Maya smiled and walked into the crowd, “I graduated from here too. My father, mother, and maternal grandfather were all priests. My parents met because of Candlemaster, and they had a blissful love. Therefore, they decided that we would all follow this path.”
“Then will you have children in the future, teacher?” Angela suddenly asked.
“I already have a child, little one,”
Madam Maya, who looked only in her early twenties, ruffled her hair and casually said something surprising, “She’s already eight years old and is attending primary school in the Red Queen District.”
“Ah, I know about that!”
Aden said happily when this topic came up, “Madam Maya visited my family’s antique shop before, and she was holding a little girl’s hand then.”
“Her name is Viviane. I’ll take you to see her if you have the chance.”
When this topic was mentioned, a gentle look appeared on Madam Maya’s face, as if it were shining.
Eivass lingered at the back of the crowd, silently watching this scene.
… For some reason, he suddenly thought of Princess Isabel in his mind.
He could no longer remember what his birth mother, “Annie Alexander,” was like. When he recalled his mother now, the first thing that appeared in his mind was the version played by “Lulu.” That was the clearest memory in his mind.
He didn’t know what path Annie, as an extraordinary being, had taken, or if she was even an extraordinary being at all. But she had sacrificed her life for Eivass to survive, drawing away the Hooked Demon.
Eivass was grateful to her. It was the sincere, resolute, and selfless love of a mother for her child.
The group soon arrived at the White Dance Shoe Club.
It was still sealed off, with inspectors guarding the entrance. From time to time, adults in suits could be seen entering the White Dance Shoe Club, heading straight for it.
Today, only influential figures were allowed into the club, along with media reporters and foreign guests. But Eivass quietly explained to the guard who approached him that these people were his companions, considered close friends… and he intended to bring them in as well.
“…Wait, Eivass! Wait for me!”
Just as Eivass’s wheelchair was about to enter the entrance, rolling down the ramp.
Isabel’s somewhat wronged call suddenly came from behind him, “What about me!”
Lily stopped pushing the wheelchair and turned Eivass halfway around.
Eivass raised an eyebrow and saw Isabel, whom he hadn’t seen in two days, running towards him, holding up her skirt.
She was not wearing her school uniform today, but a white formal dress. Although not as elaborately dressed as when Eivass attended the banquet that day, she had still worn as many accessories as possible while prioritizing ease of movement. Around her neck was her favorite pearl necklace with a rose carved from citrine.
She rushed over anxiously, her light golden waist-length hair shimmering in the sunset.
Eivass’s lips curved up, and he looked at Isabel sideways, unable to help but chuckle, “I say… for such a small occasion, Your Highness shouldn’t need my invitation to get in freely, right?”
Isabel was momentarily choked.
Her running pace slowed down, and she finally stopped in front of Eivass.
“…Because I want to sit with them.”
As if she had finally found an excuse, Isabel’s eyes lit up. “I’m your friend too, just like them—so I’m their friend too!
“I want to sit with my friends, I don’t want to sit in the front row!”
“Then come, Isabel.”
Eivass chuckled lightly, and Lily turned the wheelchair back skillfully. She was becoming more and more proficient, able to understand his intentions even without his direction or command.
Isabel quickly followed, just in time to hear the next sentence, “Today, you are no longer Princess Isabel of Avalon. You are just a private friend I invited. I’ll reserve the closest seat to me for you… If you encounter any danger again, I will protect you.”
…What about me?
Aden’s eyes widened.
“Didn’t you say you’d save that for me earlier? I wanted to get some screen time!”
But he looked at Eivass and then at Isabel, and wisely chose to remain silent.
Eivass then tilted his head slightly and whispered to Isabel beside him in a voice only they could hear, “See, our initial agreement has been fulfilled in the end. We have entered the sealed White Dance Shoe Club again, and I have helped you find friends who also love music and dance.
“Compared to the mixed crowd of unknown individuals in the club, these aspiring priests should be more trustworthy friends, right?”
Hearing this, Isabel on the side blinked her eyes and tilted her head slightly to look at Eivass.
What did he mean by this… Perhaps he didn’t want her to be friends with strangers?
Or had she misunderstood?
For some reason, Isabel, who had always longed for friends before, felt inexplicably happy now.
A new month, and another seven-thousand-word update. Please cast your monthly votes!
This month, Cat will continue to work hard to update and see how long the continuous update streak can last this time!
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